心直口快 (xīn zhí kǒu kuài) — frank and outspoken; straightforward in speech

Definition

Idiom for a frank, outspoken person who says what they think without hesitation. Usually positive, but can imply a tendency to speak too bluntly and offend others.

idiom
frank and outspokenstraightforward in speech

Examples

  • 心直口快，。
    Tā xìng gé xīn zhí kǒu kuài, yǒu shén me shuō shén me.
    He has a straightforward character and says whatever he thinks.
  • ，心直口快，。
    Dà jiā dōu xǐ huan tā, yīn wèi tā xīn zhí kǒu kuài, bù guǎi wān mò jiǎo.
    Everyone likes him because he is outspoken and doesn't beat around the bush.
  • 心直口快。
    xīn zhí kǒu kuài De rén yǒu shí hou huì bù xiǎo xīn dé zuì rén.
    Outspoken people sometimes accidentally offend others.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

心直
心xīnmind直zhístraightforward
主谓Subject + predicate
口快
口kǒumouth快kuàiquick
主谓Subject + predicate

心直 says the mind is straightforward and 口快 says the mouth is quick, so the whole means frank and outspoken.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 心 comes from a drawing of a heart, now highly stylized.

Open 心 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The earliest form of 直 pairs 目, an eye, with an unclear stroke 丨.

Open 直 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The form 口 looks like an open mouth.

Open 口 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
忄Written in full as心xīn
Sound part声符shēngfú
夬
夬guài快kuài
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

快 pairs the left part 忄 (full form 心, the heart) with the right part 夬, which gives the sound.

Open 快 →

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